ICC Announces Schedule Of ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015

14 sides to go head to head in Ireland and Scotland for six available places in ICC World Twenty20 India 2016

Opportunity for Ireland to complete a hat-trick of titles

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the schedule of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015, which will be staged across eight Ireland and Scotland venues from 9 to 26 July.

The top six sides from the 18-day tournament during which 51 matches will be played, will join the 10 Full Members for the ICC World Twenty20 India 2016, which will be held from 11 March to 3 April 2016.

In the July tournament, Ireland will also aim to complete a hat-trick of titles after it won the March 2012 and November 2013 qualifiers, both times defeating Afghanistan in the final.

Afghanistan had taken the top honours in the February 2010 tournament, while Ireland and Netherlands shared the trophy in August 2009 in Belfast after the final was washed-out.

Both Ireland and Afghanistan are in different groups. Ireland is joined in Group A by Nepal, Hong Kong, Jersey, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Namibia and United States of America (USA), while Pool B includes Canada, Netherlands, Scotland, Kenya, Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) apart from Afghanistan.

The inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007 was competed by Kenya and Scotland apart from the 10 Full Members, while Ireland, Netherlands and Scotland (replacing Zimbabwe) featured in the 2009 tournament in England. Ireland and Afghanistan filled in the two spots for the 2010 and 2012 events, before the ICC Board decided to increase the number of sides below the Test nations to six for the ICC World Twenty20 2014. The six sides that joined the 10 Full Members for the Bangladesh tournament were Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Ireland, Nepal, Netherlands and the UAE.

According to the format of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015, the sides that top the two groups will automatically qualify for the ICC World Twenty20 India 2016, while the sides that finish second and third in each of the two groups will play cross-over matches with the two winners joining the table-toppers for the India tournament.

The losing sides of the two play-off matches will then play the fourth-placed sides from each of the two groups in cross-over matches with the winners completing the 16-team line-up for the ICC World Twenty20 India 2016.

The fifth-sixth and third-fourth position play-offs as well as the final will be played on the last three days of the tournament based on which these teams’ seeding/groupings for the ICC World Twenty20 India 2016 will be confirmed.

Malahide in Dublin and The Grange in Edinburgh will be the two broadcast venues. However, broadcast details of the ICC Word Twenty20 2015 will be announced closer to the start of the tournament.

Certain venue/matches will be ticketed and these details will be announced in due course.

The two groups are:

Group A——————————————————-Group B

A1 – Ireland————————————————–B1 – Afghanistan

A2 – Nepal—————————————————-B2 – UAE

A3 – Hong Kong————————————————B3 – Netherlands

A4 – PNG——————————————————B4 – Scotland

A5 – Namibia————————————————–B5 – Canada

A6 – USA——————————————————B6 – Kenya

A7 – Jersey—————————————————B7 – Oman

The schedule is:

Warm-up matches

Cricket in Dublin, Ireland, photo credit William Murphy
https://www.flickr.com/photos/infomatique/2483386977/in/photolist-4Ms1qR-4MwasL-4MwgF5-4Ms4Yn-4Ms6qz-4Ms7sg-4MwiKJ-4Ms3Rt-4MrZrz-4Msafx-4Ms5gD-4MwhsG-4Ms212-4MwjZ3-4Ms5Dn-4MwjCy-4MrYFH-4MwbfW-4Ms79K-4MweHw-4Mw7yE-4Ms2HF-4Mw9Bw-4Ms4zx-4MwcTY-4Ms16c

Mon, 6 July (1000-1310) – Nepal v Oman, Stormont, Belfast; PNG v Kenya, Bready, Co. Tyrone; Scotland v Namibia, The Grange, Edinburgh; Netherlands v Hong Kong, Myreside, Edinburgh

Mon, 6 July (1415-1725) – Ireland v UAE, Stormont, Belfast; USA v local side, Bready, Co. Tyrone; Canada v local side, The Grange, Edinburgh; Afghanistan v Jersey, Myreside, Edinburgh

Tue, 7 July (1000-1310) – Nepal v UAE, Stormont, Belfast; local team v PNG, Bready, Co. Tyrone; Scotland v Jersey, Goldenacre, Edinburgh; local team v Netherlands, New Williamfield, Stirling

Tue, 7 July (1415-1725) – Ireland v Oman, Stormont, Belfast; Kenya v USA, Bready, Co. Tyrone; Canada v Namibia, Goldenacre, Edinburgh; Afghanistan v Hong Kong, New Williamfield, Stirling

Tournament matches

Thurs, 9 July – Scotland v UAE, The Grange, Edinburgh (1000-1310); Netherlands v Afghanistan, The Grange, Edinburgh (1415-1725)

Fri, 10 July – Ireland v Namibia, Stormont, Belfast (1000-1310); Canada v Kenya, Myreside, Edinburgh (1000-1310); Nepal v USA, Stormont, Belfast (1415-1725); UAE v Afghanistan, The Grange, Edinburgh 1415-1725

Sat, 11 July – Hong Kong v Jersey, Bready, Co. Tyrone (1000-1310); Scotland v Netherlands, The Grange, Edinburgh (1000-1310); Kenya v Oman, Myreside, Edinburgh (1000-1310); Nepal v Namibia, Stormont, Belfast (1415-1725)

Sun, 12 July – Ireland v USA, Stormont, Belfast (1000-1310); PNG v Jersey, Bready, Co. Tyrone (1000-1310); UAE v Netherlands, The Grange, Edinburgh (1000-1310); Canada v Oman, New Williamfield, Stirling (1000-1310); Scotland v Afghanistan, The Grange, Edinburgh (1415-1725)

Mon, 13 July – Namibia v USA, Stormont, Belfast (1000-1310); Hong Kong v PNG, Bready, Co. Tyrone (1000-1310); Ireland v Nepal, Stormont, Belfast (1415-1725); Afghanistan v Kenya, New Williamfield, Stirling (1415-1725)

Tue, 14 July – Netherlands v Oman, Myreside, Edinburgh (1000-1310); UAE v Canada, New Williamfield, Stirling (1000-1310); Scotland v Kenya, The Grange, Edinburgh (1415-1725)

Wed, 15 July – Ireland v PNG, Stormont, Belfast (1000-1310); USA v Jersey, Bready, Co. Tyrone (1000-1310); Afghanistan v Oman, Goldenacre, Edinburgh (1000-1310); Nepal v Hong Kong, Stormont, Belfast (1415-1725); UAE v Kenya, Goldenacre, Edinburgh (1415-1725)

Thurs, 16 July – Scotland v Canada, Goldenacre, Edinburgh (1000-1310)

Fri, 17 July – Nepal v PNG, Malahide, Dublin (1000-1310); Namibia v Jersey, Clontarf (1000-1310); Netherlands v Canada, Goldenacre, Edinburgh (1000-1310); UAE v Oman, New Williamfield, Stirling (1000-1310); Ireland v Hong Kong, Malahide, Dublin (1415-1725)

Sat, 18 July – Nepal v Jersey, Malahide, Dublin (1000-1310); Scotland v Oman, Goldenacre, Edinburgh (1000-1310); Afghanistan v Canada, New Williamfield, Stirling (1000-1310); PNG v Namibia, Malahide, Dublin (1415-1725); Hong Kong v USA, Clontarf, Dublin (1415-1725); Netherlands v Kenya, Myreside, Edinburgh (1415-1725)

Sun, 19 July – Ireland v Jersey, Malahide, Dublin (1000-1310); PNG v USA, Malahide, Dublin (1415-1725); Hong Kong v Namibia, Clontarf, Dublin (1415-1725)

Tue, 21 July – Qualifying Play-Off 1 (A2 v B3), Malahide, Dublin (1000-1310); Qualifying Play-Off 2 (A3 v B2), Malahide, Dublin (1415-1725)

Thurs, 23 July – Qualifying Play-Off 3 (A4 v loser Qualifying Play-Off 1, Malahide, Dublin (1000-1310); Qualifying Play-Off 4 (B4 v loser Qualifying Play-Off 2, Malahide, Dublin (1415-1725)

Sat, 25 July – Semi-final (B1 v Winner Qualifying Play-off 1), Malahide, Dublin (1000-1310); fifth/sixth position play-off (winner play-off 3 v winner play-off 4), Clontarf, Dublin (1000-1310); Semi-final (A1 v Winner Qualifying Play-off 2), Malahide, Dublin (1415-1725)

Sun, 26 July – Third place play-off, Malahide, Dublin (1000-1310); Final, Malahide, Dublin (1415-1725)

Giwa Fc Duo Claim LBA For April

Giwa Fc head coach, Tony Bulus and striker Ibrahim Shuaibu, have emerged winners of the League Bloggers Awards (LBA) Manager and Player respectively for the month of April.

It is the first time that both men will be named winners of the prestigious award, which honours the best players and managers in the Glo Premier League.

Bulus claimed the manager’s award by fending off close challenges from Kennedy Boboye (stand-in Sunshine Stars head coach for Englishman Paul Ashworth), Abdu Maikaba (Wikki Tourists) and Kadiri Ikhana (Enyimba).

The Giwa FC manager edged the rest of the pack by finishing the month
of April unbeaten after guiding his team to two wins, including an away win at Enugu Rangers.

Boboye, Maikaba and Ikhana could only help their teams to two wins apiece.

Giwa Fc Striker Ibrahim Shuaibu

In the player’s category, it was quite a battle among Shuaibu, Enyimba striker Mfon Udoh, Bayelsa United goalkeeper Bassey Akpan, Ubong Ekpai, of Kano Pillars and Wikki’s Godwin Obaje.

However, the battle was down to three players – Shuaibu, Udoh and Akpan – and it was the Giwa FC striker who edged the others to claim the LBA for April after he scored two of his three goals at Rangers and Lobi Stars. His goals also helped his team to finish the month under review without a loss.

Though Udoh scored three goals, he fell just short of claiming the gong while Bayelsa United goalkeeper Akpan also had a big shout with three clean sheets against Gabros FC, Sharks and FC Taraba.

Bulus and Shuaibu will receive their awards later in May.

LBA WINNERS THIS SEASON

March 2015
Player: Ebere Odiche (Heartland)
Manager: Tony Ogharanduku (FC Taraba)

ICC Cricket Committee To Meet In Mumbai On 15 And 16 May

The International Cricket Council today announced that the annual ICC Cricket Committee meeting will take place in Mumbai on 15 and 16 May.

Amongst the topics on the agenda for discussion over the course of the two days are:

· The balance between bat and ball in all three formats
· ICC Playing Conditions, including a post- ICC Cricket World Cup review
· The use of technology in umpiring
· Code of Conduct, including player behaviour
· Illegal bowling actions

The committee is chaired by former India captain Anil Kumble and includes representatives of the game’s various stakeholders.

The Cricket Committee’s remit is to discuss cricket-playing matters and to make recommendations to the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee and the ICC Board that will meet in Barbados during the ICC’s annual conference week, from 22-26 June.

The ICC Cricket Committee comprises:

Chairman – Anil Kumble (former India captain)

Ex-Officio – N. Srinivasan (ICC Chairman) and David Richardson (ICC Chief Executive)

Past Player representative – Mark Taylor (former Australia captain)

Current Player representative –Laxman Sivaramakrishnan (ex-India leg-spinner)

Full Member team coach representative – Darren Lehmann (Australia coach)

Women’s Cricket representative – Clare Connor (former England women’s team captain)

Media representative – Ravi Shastri (former India captain and a respected commentator)

Umpires’ representative – Steve Davis (member of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires)

Referees’ representative – Ranjan Madugalle (ICC chief match referee and former Sri Lanka captain)

MCC representative – John Stephenson (MCC’s Head of Cricket)

Statistician representative – David Kendix (statistician/scorer)

Apologies: Kevin O’Brien (Associate representative), Kumar Sangakkara (Current Player representative), Andrew Strauss (Past Player representative), David White (Member Board representative, NZC Chief Executive)

RIVERS ANGELS IN FLYING START, TRASH CAPITAL CITY DOVES 4-0

An inspired Mabel Effiom performance handed Rivers Angels a 4-0 win against new comers, Capital City Doves of Abuja in a Nigeria Women Premier League Week 1 rescheduled game at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt.

Rivers Angels dominated the midfield and attacked early in the game with the inspired Effiom troubling the visitors with her darting runs and crosses from the left flank.

The former Ibom Angels full back, was playing in place of Ngozi Ebere who is on duty with the national team and made sure Ebere’s absence was not felt in the game.

The Port Harcourt based side opened scores on 19 minutes when newly-signed striker from Finland, Ijeoma Obi rammed home a fantastic bicycle kick which left Oluwaseun Sanusi who was in goal for Doves with no chance at all.

Two minutes later, the double champions increased the tally and this time around it was last season NWPL highest goal scorer, Amarachi Ojinma opening her account for the season.

The former Pelican stars forward got a just reward for her efforts after her shot was previously blocked by Sanusi taking advantage of a defensive error by the Abuja side to poke home.

Two soon became three in the 32nd minute as the hosts compounded their visitors’ woes. A perfectly weighed cross from Mercy Amanze found centre back Ihuoma Onyebuchi who teed up Ijeoma Obi to bury it past Sanusi.

Capital City Doves, lacking a cutting edge, outmuscled in the midfield and could not find their way through the Rivers Angels defense on countless occasions.

With ten minutes into the second half, the referee disallowed a goal scored by Grace Henry who pounced on a spilled ball from Sanusi. She was adjudged to be in an offside position.

The home side however continued the game without any protest but so much attention was on the coach of Capital City Doves, Ngozi Ezeh who on three different intervals called on her players to the sidelines after they conceded a goal from Rivers Angels side.

In the 75th minute however, Rivers Angels got icing on their well baked cake with a free kick from 25 yards from Ulunma Jerome who connected the newly introduced Ijeoma Emenike. Emenike did brilliantly to find a relentless Mercy Amanze who headed the ball into the net.

It wrapped up an efficient yet comfortable display for the Champions who were yet to kick a ball this term after they walked over Pelicans Stars in Calabar last weekend.

Rivers Angels Starting lineup

Assistant coach of Rivers Angels, Whyte Ogbonda expressed his delight after the match but admitted they were missing their key players who are on national duty.

“We are missing the players in the national camp if they were here we would have scored up to 10 goals. The standard of the game would have been higher than this but am happy because what we were looking for is just 3 points and at the end of the day they were able to get 3points and 4 goals so am happy they played to instruction and there is room for improvement, said Ogbonda.

Coach of Capital City Dove, Ngozi Ezeh admitted she was not disappointed with the result.

The girls tried their best. We just got into the league and we were not supposed to be in the league but I still believe these girls will still do wonders. I am not disappointed for what my girls played its not easy to face the champions, remember they are the champions of the league, Ezeh said.

“I have to inject new players and encourage the little ones that can meet up the league when next they come for the return leg in Abuja you will hear a different result, Ezeh concluded.

Highest goal scorer of NWPL 2013/2014 season, Amarachi Ojinma who was at Pelican Stars last season, believes she can replicate her scoring form for the Women League champions.

“By the special grace of God I believe I can do it. According to the league board, it is not a straight league but an abridged one. If I can’t get up to what I got(17) with Pelican Stars last season , I hope to get half of the goals I got last season, she said.

Rivers Angels next play Nasarawa Amazons On Saturday, May 16 at the Liberation Stadium Port Harcourt.

VISIT FROM ATHLETICS LEGENDS MARKS 100 DAYS TO GO UNTIL IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, BEIJING 2015

There was a feeling that something special was in the air of the Chinese capital this afternoon as more than 1000 spectators, guests and athletes gathered outside the magnificent Bird’s Nest.

VISIT FROM ATHLETICS LEGENDS MARKS 100 DAYS TO GO UNTIL IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, BEIJING 2015 photo credit IAAF

In exactly 100 days, the IAAF World Championships, Beijing 2015 will get underway and to mark the event a special ceremony was held just outside the National Stadium which will be the venue for the nine-day competition from 22 to 30 August.

Xiao Tian, Deputy Sports Minister, Zhang Jiandong, Vice Mayor of Beijing and Du Zhaocai, IAAF Council Member and President of the Chinese Athletics Association attended the event, accompanied by IAAF ambassadors and legends of the sport Colin Jackson, Michael Johnson and Mike Powell.

Ngodingha, Elechi to lead Go Round FC

Former Super Eagles first choice keeper and Bayelsa United coach, David Ngodingha will be in the dug-out for Go Round FC as they start their campaign in the Nigeria National League on Friday.

Ngodingha is however not head of the coaching crew as he is there as coaching consultant or Technical Adviser.

Former Dolphins and Lobi Stars attacker, Ngozi Elechi will continue as head coach of the side for the 3rd consecutive season.

Team Manager of the club, Soni Uboh says they are confident in the ability of the coaches.

“David Ngodingha remains the technical adviser. Remember he was part of the team that went to the UK and we believe what he learned there will be of immense value to the club.

“We also have Ngozi Elechi who is an excellent coach and match reader and was part of a recent FIFA coaching course. We have confidence in our coaches,” Uboh said.

Go Round Fc, Players during the Unveiling of the Clubs new kits by Owu sportswear

Players return

Soni Uboh was also excited at the return of two of their former players who had ditched the side to join Premier League clubs.

“Two of our outstanding attackers, Chidi Nwachukwu and our captain Nyime Nwangwa have returned.

“Nwachukwu went to Gabros but he was registered without our knowledge, we made a case and he returned. Nyime too went to Shooting Stars but has since returned to join us,” Uboh said.

Go Round FC who have their own stadium, The Kris Dera Hotel Stadium play their home games at Omoku, and Oil rich town in Rivers State, about one hour thirty minutes drive from Port Harcourt.

FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE GYMNASTIQUE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETS IN AUSTRALIA…

Please find here within a summary of major decisions and information published by the FIG Executive Committee (EC) at the close of its ordinary meeting, May 12-14, 2015, in Melbourne (AUS).

The EC approved the revised Regulations for the Judges’ Evaluation Programme (JEP).

Following the decisions made at the last EC meeting concerning the hand guards and the interventions of the Superior Jury in case of deviations between the Difficulty Judges and the respective Supervisor, the EC approved the necessary changes in the Appendix to the Code of Points.

The EC awarded the Norwegian judge Dag Ivar Ytreberg an Honorary Judges’ Diploma.

Upon request of the Japanese Gymnatics Federation, the EC agreed to change the dates of the 2016 Congress in Tokyo (JPN). The electoral Congress will be held 18-20 October 2016.

The EC confirmed the contractual framework between the FIG and Rio2016 for the organisation of a Gymnastics Gala following competition at the Games.

The EC discussed new competition formats for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires (ARG).

The EC postponed the planned EC meeting from October 2015 to 6-8 December 2015. At this meeting, the Technical Committes will have to present the Code of Points 2017-2020 for approval.

Additionally, the following changes in nationality have been accepted:

NAME————————–STATUS——–FORMER———–NEW

Paula TALARN BALDELLOU——–RG Gymnast——ESP————AND

Anthony DUCHARDS————–MAG Gymnast—–GBR————IRL

Tara DONELLY——————WAG Gymnast—–GBR————IRL

Marcela SOLEDAD TORRES——–WAG Gymnast—–ARG————SWE

Igor BLINTSOV—————–ACRO Judge——KAZ————GER

Fabian DE LUNA—————-MAG Gymnast—–USA————MEX

Daria ELIZAROVA—————WAG Gymnast—–UZB————RUS

Farah BOUFADENE—————WAG Gymnast—–FRA————ALG

George Robert STANESCU——–MAG Gymnast—–ROU————CAN

The next meeting of the FIG Executive Committee is scheduled for December 6-8, 2015 at FIG Headquarters in Lausanne (SUI).